Winter 2021-22 Hometown Messenger

CHIEF’S NOTES

PUBLIC SAFETY

The most important thing we can do to ensure future success here at the Shakopee Police Department is to continue to hire the best and brightest people possible. We have hired a number of new officers over the last year, and that’s a trend that will continue as our city grows and other officers reach retirement age.

When we swear in a new officer, we have several traditions. One of those is more than two decades old and started with former chief, Dan Hughes. New officers are given five core expectations that we expect of them every day they show up for the rest of their careers. Those core expectations are: safety, honor, pride, integrity and be nice (the golden rule).

Hold onto your diapers: Annual diaper drive starts Jan. 31 The Shakopee Police Department's sixth annual diaper drive will run from Jan. 31 to Feb. 13, 2022. Saturday, Feb. 5 marks five years since former Crime Prevention Specialist Janna Wood passed away, along with her unborn baby, due to deep vein thrombosis. The police department hosts the diaper drive every year in her memory. The drive will benefit the Shakopee Community Assistance Diaper Bank, which provides diapers to families in need in our community. Drop off any amount, size or brand of diapers, wipes and creams to the Shakopee Police Department, 475 Gorman St., any time between Jan. 31 and Feb. 13. Items can be left in the building entryway if it is after business hours. Future firefighter in training

Shakopee Police Chief Jeff Tate

At times policing can be a dangerous profession. We expect our officers to take care of themselves physically and mentally and to operate their equipment safely so they and their partners can go home to their families. Policing is an honorable profession. We remind officers of the awesome responsibility that comes with wearing a badge. We expect them to be a source of credit and distinction in the community, protect their reputation and the reputation of this department and to never do anything that will tarnish the badge. We expect officers to take pride in everything they do. There are no insignificant calls for service, and there are no insignificant people we serve. Whether it’s a barking dog or a felony-in-progress, we expect them to master the “little things,” be uncommonly reliable and take pride in everything they sign their name to. Integrity is the easy one; you either have it or you don’t. Integrity must be in the DNA makeup of an officer. We expect officers to do the right thing all the time, on and off duty. Be nice (the Golden Rule)! Customer service is a shared responsibility of everyone under our roof. We tell officers to walk in their customer’s shoes, treat them like they would want their family treated – including the people we arrest and have to get physical with. At the end of an arrest or altercation, we pick them up and treat them with respect. Every new officer hears the same speech with the same core expectations. It’s imperative we continue to hold ourselves to the highest standards of service possible and strive to not just meet but exceed your expectations.

A member of the Shakopee Fire Department diving team pops up to say hello to a firefighter-in-training at the Fire Department Open House in October.

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